GREENWOOD, Miss. (AP) - In June, hot air balloons will once again fly over the City of Greenwood as a couple of entrepreneurs bring back a popular event.
The Greenwood Commonwealth reports (https://bit.ly/23ftf2l ) businessmen James Gammill and David Elmore conceived the idea to reintroduce the Greenwood Balloon & Music Festival, which is scheduled for June 16-18 in Whittington Park.
The last BalloonFest was held in 2003.
“It’s a threeday event, if done properly, that will fill up all the hotels and fill up the restaurants,” Gammill told the Greenwood City Council this week. “It used to fill up hotels in the surrounding cities within 30 to 45 miles. I believe we can bring that back again.”
Including the traditional balloon glow in the park, the event will have food vendors, arts and crafts sellers and motorcycle and car enthusiasts. Children 10 and under will be admitted free, he said.
“They will stay for a while and spend some money and learn that it is a family threeday event and not just something for those who like to drink beer,” Gammill said.
The required insurance has been secured, and 35 balloons have been signed up to participate, he said.
Gammill said he was hoping to offer beer at the balloon glows on Thursday and Friday nights. The event doesn’t currently have a liquor license, but Police Chief Ray Moore said that would be issued by the state and not his department.
Gammill was hoping the city would sponsor the event, but the council Tuesday did not approve making a donation of city funds.
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Information from: The Greenwood Commonwealth, https://www.gwcommonwealth.com
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